Composition and method for treating nicotine dependency

ABSTRACT

An anti-smoking remedy with biochemical effect. The remedy consists of non-toxic plant components including Radix bupleuri, Radix peucedani and Rhizoma cimicifugae. Additional components to the preparation can include Rhizome phragmiles, or a mixture of Pinellia ternata and either Liguiritiae or Robinia pseudo acacia.

The invention refers to an anti-smoking remedy with biochemical effect.More and more attention is paid to the disturbances of health associatedwith or caused by smoking. In the meantime it has also become generallyknown that non-smokers who inhale the smoke of other people's cigaretteshave to fear in the long run an impairment of their health. That is whyin the last years various methods of medicines against smoking have beenpresented which aimed to disgust the smoker with smoking, to motivatehim psychologically against smoking, to shift the pleasure of smoking toother physical comforts, etc.

The known chemical and biochemical anti-smoking remedies generally haveunwanted side effects. Moreover, their efficacy is not alwaysguaranteed. The intake, particularly the prolonged intake of theseremedies requires a firm and constant will which, as known byexperience, the patient has in the initial phase but often is not ableto maintain after a certain period of withdrawal. Especially when thefirst withdrawal symptoms and side effects, such as weight gain, occur.It is precisely at this moment that the will-power of most of themfails. At this stage the known biochemical remedies do not sufficientlysupport the patient who is willing to stop smoking.

The objective which underlies this invention is therefore to avoid thedetriments of the known biochemical anti-smoking remedies and to presenta biochemical remedy which in a relatively short time, for example a fewdays (2 to 5 days), disgusts the smoker with smoking to such a degreethat he will stick to the treatment also for the following days. Alreadyduring first days of intake the preparation shall provoke such a strongaversion to smoking that the person who is willing to stop smoking feelsphysically unwell, in particular nauseous, if he smokes after intake ofthe preparation or inhales the smoke of other people's cigarettes. Theinvention aims at producing a strong anti-nicotine effect. A feeling ofincompatibility between tobacco products and the invention-conformingpreparation is created.

This objective is achieved by anti-smoking remedy with biochemicaleffect which consists of the following non-toxic plant components: RadixBupleuri, Radix Peucedani, Rhizoma Cimicifugae and Tubera Pinelliae. Tothese components can be added: Rhizoma Phragmites or a mixture ofPinellia ternata and Liquiritiae; Robinia pseudo-acacia can substitutefor Liquiritiae.

These components can be presented in various galenic forms, for examplechewing tablets, normal tablets for oral use, infusion, etc. Preferenceis given to the chewing tablet. In the form of a chewing tablet, thestrong bitter taste of the preparation is fully perceived, but it can bemodified or altered by appropriate additives (sugar, aromatics, etc.).

Combined, the mentioned components cause an aversion to smoke andsmoking, and this already at the moment a cigarette is lighted up.Aversion is also felt when inhaling the smoke of other people'scigarettes. In both situations, active and passive smoking, the intakeof the pharmaceutical preparation produces a bitter taste in the mouthwhich, first of all, spoils the pleasure of smoking. In addition aneffect is produced on the central nervous system in form of a defensereaction which is attributed to a change in the sensation of taste inthe brain. Moreover, the parasympathetic nervous system is stimulatedprovoking sickness and nausea. Sickness resp. nausea are intensified dueto the fact that less oxygen is absorbed when inhaling smoke. Theinvention-conforming herb mixture strengthnes nerves and organs. Theanti-smoking effect is already felt after a few days, for example after2 to 5 days.

The plant components used have a strong anti-nicotine effect and provokenausea and even vomiting when smoking a cigarette or inhaling the smokeof other people's cigarettes. This is due to a taste incompatibilitybetween tobacco products and the active constituents of the plants.

The intake of the invention-conforming pharmaceutical preparation leadsto a decrease in weight. This is a very important advantage since withthe anti-smoking treatments usually applied an increase in weight isobserved already a few days after having stopped smoking due to thewithdrawal of nicotine. Owing to its weight reducing properties theinvention-conforming preparation counteracts this tendency. On the wholethe anti-smoking effect of the invention-conforming pharmaceuticalpreparation is not of psychological nature but is due to a sensoryantagonism (incompatibility) which manifests itself not only on a localsensory level but also centrally.

The preparation also proved effective in spoiling the pleasure ofdrinking coffee. This effect is above all attributed to the presence ofPinellia ternata. A taste incompatibility with coffee is achieved whichmanifests itself as a prickling, tingling, stinging and burningsensation in the mouth and throat when drinking coffee after the intakeof the preparation. The daily coffee consumption decreased in testpersons who took the preparation over a prolonged period. Moreover thereare some indications that the preparation may also disgust with takingdrugs. Preliminary trials also showed a certain efficacy of thepreparation in subjects smoking marihuana, in alcohol abuse, and even inthe last stage of cocaine dependence.

Radix Bupleuri is the root of Bupleurum felcatum L. of the Umbelliferaefamily. The herb grows in Southern and Middle Europe, Eastern Asia andabove all in Japan. Its antipyretic properties are generally accepted.The most important chemical constituents are blupleurumol C3H6402(0.5%), A-Spinasterol (2%), and Rutin C2H30016 (2%).

Radix Peucedani is the root of Peucadanum praeruptorum Dunn which alsobelongs to the Umbelliferas family. It is used in gastric diseases anddermatoses. The root contains among other substances essential oils andbitters, above all nodakenin C20H2409, sponsterol and nodakenetinC14H1404.

Rhizoma Cimicifugae is the root of Cimicifuga foetida L. which belongsto the Ranunculaceae family. The plant grows in North America. Its mostimportant constituents are cimicitin C20H3407 and cimicifugine.

Tubera Pinelliae is the bulb, root or stem of Pineallia ternataBreitenbach (P. tuberiferara; triphyllium of the Araceae family). Theplant grows in Eastern Asia. It contains about 0.003 to 0.13% ofessential oils, some alkaloids, fatty oily and stark, for ex. pinelin.

Rhizoma Phragmites are the root and stem of Phragmites communis L.Triniusj of the gramineae family, the English word for it is reed. About77% of silicic acid was found in the ashes. It has a sweetish taste andis used in disorders of the lungs, stomach and liver. Constituents areproteins, fats and carbohydrates.

The root of licorice resp. Glycyrrhiza contains steroid-like hormones,to which is attributed an antiphlogistic effect. The main constituent ofthe root is the triterpene saponin glycyrrhizic acid which has anintensde sweet taste. It forms with water a gelatine-like mixture on thepharyngeal mucosa a protective layer. It is the root of licorice, Radixglycyrrhizae, which gives the medicine its pleasant taste. Essentialconstituents are Glycyrrhizine (10%), Potassium, Terpenic saponins(12%), for example the already mentioned Glycyrrhizic acid, Liquiritin,Isoliquiritin (flavonoids), Asparagine (1 to 2%) and Glycymarin (6%;bitter taste).

For a preferred further development of the invention it is proposed thatthe plant components are present in the following weight percentages:

(Example 1): 25) of Radiox Bupleuri, 20% of Radix Peucedani, 25% ofRhizoma Cimicifugae, 20% of Tubera Pinelliae and 10% of RhozomaPhragmites. The base should be a fully dosed (saturated) aqueoussolution of 3 to 5 g of Radix Bupleuri, 5 to 10 g of Radix Peucedani, 3to 5 g of Rhizoma Cimicifugae, 5 to 10 g of Tubera Pinelliae and 15 to30 g of Rhizoma Phragmites.

(Example 2): 30% of Peucedanum praeruptorum of the Umbelliferae family,24% of Gentiana barbata of the Gentianceae family, 12% of Cimicifugafoetida of the Ranunculaceae family, 4% of licorice or Robiniapseudo-accacia both of the Leguminosae family, 12% of Bupleurum falcatumof the Umbelliferae family.

For the manufacture of the preparation the plant components are simplyblended. It is possible but not necessary to add special binders. Forthe manufacture of the chewing tablets gum material is used, forexample, chickle polyvinylester or polyethylene, i.e. materials whichare also used for the manufacture of chewing gum. Preferably sugarobtained from honey is added. The effect of the medicine is particularlylong-lasting when used in the galenic presentation of a chewing tablet;thoroughly masticated, the different active substances are betterabsorbed and display therefore a greater effect.

An infusion can also be prepared. The preparation is the same as withnormal tea. Hot water is poured in a cup upon at least one tablet of theinvention-conforming pharmaceutical preparation. The infusion shoulddraw for some minutes and should be drunk hot.

One tablet weights 0.5 g. Normal daily dose: one tablet three times aday with a little water. Heavy smokers should double the dose. Thetablets should be taken with the meals, before, during or after themeals.

The treatment should be continued until an effect is perceived, butshould not exceed five days. If after five days of intake no effect isfelt, i.e. no aversion to smoke and for smoking, treatment should bediscontinued for 2 to 3 days and then resumed for another five days.

The anti-smoking effect is attributed to the following chemicalconstituents of the plants:

Nodakenin (Peucedanum), Gentioside (Gentiana), Cimiciti (Cimicifuge),Saponins and A-Spinasterol (Bupleurum).

I claim:
 1. An anti-smoking preparation comprising a non-toxic,pharmaceutically effective amount of Radix Bupleuri, Radix Peucedani,Rhozoma Cimicifugae, and Tubera Pinelliae.
 2. The anti-smokingpreparation of claim 1 further comprising a non-toxic pharmaceuticallyeffective amount of Rhizoma Phragmites.
 3. The anti-smoking preparationof claim 1 further comprising a non-toxic pharmaceutically effectiveamount of Gentiana barbata (gentian) and Liquiritiae.
 4. Theanti-smoking preparation of claim 2, wherein the components are presentin the preparation in the following relative weight ratio: RadixBupleuri 25%, Radix Peucedani 20%, Rhizoma Cimicifugae 25%, TuberaPinelliae 20%, and Rhizoma Phragmites 10%.
 5. An anti-smokingpreparation comprising a mixture of components in the following relativeweight ratio: Peucedanum praeruptorum of the Umbelliferae family 30%,Gentiana barbata of the Gentianaceae family 24%, Cimicifuga foetida ofthe Ranunculaceae family 12%, Luquiritiae of the Leguminosae family orRobinia pseudoacacia of the Leguminosae family 4%, Bupleurum falcatum ofthe Umbelliferae family 12%, and Pinellia ternata of the Araceae family18%.
 6. The anti-smoking preparation of claim 1, wherein the componentsare compressed, dry tablets.
 7. The anti-smoking preparation of claim 1,wherein the components are present in a binder comprising a chewing gumbase.
 8. The anti-smoking preparation of claim 7, wherein the chewinggum base contains chicle.
 9. A method of treating nicotine dependency ina patient comprising administering to the patient a non-toxicpharmaceutically effective amount of a mixture comprising RadixBupleuri, Rhizoma Cimicifugae and Radix Peucedani.